[Railón, Amoren] Mices in the Marketplace (Luna)

[Gloomcrest]

86th of Glade, 4623

It had been a while since the thief had set foot back in Amoren, particularly in Levarin, the last time the young Draedan was here. It was only a brief period of resting from a possibly fatal encounter with a Remanomancer and being dropped into a Necrodoctor’s practice which the pain of paying for so much still burns.

Another memory that Jared recalls was being chased by a rather ambitious Nightfallen guard and barely managing to evade capture by using his mutated Nightfallen abilities to leave little to no trace whilst hiding. Despite it all, the memories weren’t too old, but the sensations here felt familiar.

It was moving closer to dusk on this particular day; The amber-eyed thief was taking his time casing various establishments and people that may have something of interest. Whether it was a trinket, a trifle or something valuable, Jared was keen on nabbing a few items for himself before laying low for a time. In the end, being a petty thief requires some finesse in one or another, and it was around Glade that the young Draedan could fully understand who he was as a person.

Establishing his identity as a Draedan took time, and understanding the value of Divinity itself was both a blessing and a curse. Sometimes, the thief couldn’t help but ponder if this was the right decision to win the first place, but the young Alistian male couldn’t turn the clock back now and had to deal with the cards told.

“Seems like Levarin hasn’t changed much since I last been here. The coastal view reminds me so much of home, albeit far pretty and wealthy compared to Alistian, I guess, but with wealthy people around, pockets can be filled, which I will enjoy for a bit.”


It was relatively rare for Jared to be outside his usual thief’s attire, usually clothed in black baggy clothing with a good cloak. It was a relatively new change, with his outfit choice leaning more toward the earthen colour scheme associated with Daravin, which in the thief’s case, was a mixture of muted green with splashes of sandy beige and sienna. It wasn’t anything too fancy or elaborate. Wearing a well-made muted green tunic, sandy beige linen pants with some black leather boots, and a dusty sienna cloak with a simple linen cloth over the bridge of his nose. It wasn’t much of an eye sore, but it could be agreed that the thief didn’t have much taste when it came to fashion, but he pretty much looked like he was a part of the middle class. However, that didn't stop Jared's innate physical traits, which was amplified by the fact that being a Draedan, most of his physical flaws had corrected themselves to mimic what was deemed 'perfect' in accordance with divinity.

“Well, let's look at the markets, shall we? There should be something of interest that I look at and find something of use… I could nab a few more pockets for the evening or an establishment… Utilising some new abilities is great, but I must be careful.”

The amber-eyed man with slightly wavy raven-black hair couldn’t help but mutter softly as he made his way over to a busy section of one of the many bazaars and plazas that litter Levarin. After all, an excellent place to start casing for potential stuff to steal was at a busy marketplace.

[Sola]

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Luna strolled through the vibrant market, her eyes scanning the numerous stalls and shops that lined the bustling streets. She was on a mission to find the perfect items for her upcoming wedding to Enrique, and she was determined to leave no stone unturned in her quest for matrimonial perfection. The air was filled with the enticing aromas of exotic spices and fresh-baked pastries, mingling with the heady scent of freshly cut flowers. Luna's heart raced with excitement as she examined the stunning array of gowns on display, each one meticulously crafted from the finest silk and lace, adorned with intricate beadwork and shimmering embroidery. She couldn't help but imagine herself draped in such elegant finery, the envy of every onlooker as she exchanged vows with her dashing groom. She imagined herself wearing a dazzling selection jewelry and exquisite pearl earrings that were sure to make her the picture of regal sophistication.

All that would have to wait, however. It was her fiancé who was footing the bill for the wedding and she couldn’t afford to get the expensive stuff on her own dime. She was only supposed to be “window shopping” and getting ideas. She was wearing a relatively simple black dress with matching boots that any commoner might wear. However, her hair was put in a fancy up-do and her face was touched up with makeup which might have suggested that she frequented an expensive cosmetologist.

Was she a good thieving target? Perhaps. She did have a lot more money on her than usual, tied to her waist in a bag that wouldn’t be all that hard to slice open with a knife. She was paying particularly little attention to it since she was standing outside a jewelry shop staring longingly through the window at a particularly interesting set of jewels. She reasoned that she had just enough to buy a few of them, but at the same time she felt that she could use her magical powers to simply grab them from afar and run.

She shook her head and turned to walk away only to bump right into Jared, unless he was agile enough to side step her.

Created by Moop!

[Gloomcrest]

86th of Glade, 4623

There was a lot to see, mainly those of various foodstuffs, trinkets and baubles that could sell reasonably if one could find a suitable fence to pawn the stolen goods. After all, the value of items tends to be extrinsic; the term ‘One man’s trash is another man’s treasure’ is very much apparent.

As the amber-eyed thief continues to stroll through one of the many marketplaces littered in Levarin, various forms of entertainment are happening, from people predicting the future through cards, parlour tricks and even the old classic of sleight of hand & vanishing acts were being performed. However, it was only about a couple of minutes later that a few marks of interest started to make their presence known. Various merchants flaunt their goods, but from the shadows are personal guards that would require additional finesse if the Alistian thief wanted to nab a few items from these merchants.

A refined lady was draped in fine silks and lace with glimmering beadworks and shimmering embroidery, gazing at a jewellery display. This person was alone, which initially suggested they were an easy target to pilfer, but if one displayed their wealth so proudly, that could mean a few things.

1. That the person was very foolish and asking to be robbed;
2. They are a pretty strong individual who can defend themselves in a matter of confrontation;
3. They have guards or servants that hide nicely in the shadows or crowds that can strike at any moment;
4. They are essentially acting as bait and waiting for someone to slip up and make a mistake;
5. They could be a distraction while others work behind the scenes, communicate, and assess potential marks.

In any case, the thief felt that this lady was too dangerous for his liking, especially since his history with wealthy merchants has always been adverse. Still, the idea of stealing from a fashionable lady was interesting.

Beyond that, the thief didn’t mind walking through the plaza, nabbing a few pockets with a quick flick of his wrist or using a small knife to cut the purse open, just enough for some coins to fall and catch before disappearing into the crowd of faceless people. Yet, the opportunity to nab something larger was present as the elegant lady entered the crowd, briefly bumping into the thief, who recovered quickly from the brief disturbance.

Taking a leap of faith, the thief took a gambit by bringing the very same knife he used to slice some coin pouches open but judging that the material he was going against might be of superior quality compared to the rest, the thief took a moment to lace his knife with a very thin sheen of Divinity. Using his innate skill of Acclimate to adjust the sharpness of his blade for just a moment to make a clean cut on the bag that was being held on her delicate waist before giving a brief moment of apologies before attempting to lose her in the crowd of people which he had practice upon many times as a previous street urchin now petty thief.

[Sola]

▬ι═ﺤ

As Luna paused to try avoiding the collision, Jared seized his opportunity. His sharp blade sliced through the pouch's leather strap without Luna even noticing. He was then free to grab the coins that would not make any noticeable sound in the hustle and bustle of the market. That was, unless they came crashing down onto the ground.

Luna nodded to the man and slipped past, her mind already focused on the next store. She continued to peruse the market, oblivious to the theft that had just occurred. It wasn't until she stopped by a bakery a few minutes later, enticed by the sweet aroma of freshly baked goods, did she realize that anything was missing.

Her brow furrowed in confusion, Luna patted her side, searching for her coin pouch. Panic set in as she realized it was gone. She retraced her steps, her heart racing as she thought back to the last time she remembered feeling the weight of her coins. She arrived back at the jewelry shop, her eyes scanning the ground, hoping against hope that she had simply dropped her precious coins. She had a sliver of hope that she might be able to find them but her heart told her they were long gone.

She remembered that man she'd seen before. She didn't think he was a thief, but perhaps he had seen something happen. She looked around, hoping that he hadn't yet been swallowed by the crowd. There was 50df on the line which was like a whole night's work and then some!

Created by Moop!

[Gloomcrest]

86th of Glade, 4623

To the Alistian-born thief, a stringed coin purse was an easy target to steal since a simple bump or a nudge is enough distraction to pick a pocket and plant some incriminating evidence. However, it would require a bit of practice. In honesty, Jared needed a bit more training despite being a well-seasoned thief.

“I should get the timing right if I try to pickpocket someone very observant of their surroundings. But, of course, it would be a game of cat and mouse at that point. Either way, a steal is a steal, but it seems like the marketplace is still busy as ever, so let's push the finish line further, shall we….”

At this point, the thief was on the prowl, surveying the area from the ground and blending in as best he could. Of course, blending into a group of peasants back home in the Northern Marches was easier since he was essentially a native. Still, here in Amoren, the culture was a bit different, and how people moved, acted, and talked was also hard to replicate. So the best thing that the thief could do was not stand out as best he could, skirting within people’s peripheral vision but just enough to be blurred.

It was only a few minutes but in that short time. The Alistian thief was making a lot of progress regarding his work, slipping his hands into people’s pockets, putting drawstrings off and catching the falling purse before vanishing into a sea of people. But, of course, there was an endless stream of people, and his agile fingers did much of the elbow grease. Of course, it also helps that Jared was able to temporarily adjust the sharpness of his blade by using his reserves of divinity through Acclimate.

As if the thief was dancing through the crowd, mimicking a waltz when he attended a ball for the Entente a few seasons back. Jared was getting back into the groove of being a pickpocket, the act itself reminds him of when he was a wee street urchin trying to make ends meet, but now the grown thief was more into burglary than sleight of hand. Still, nevertheless, it was good practice to keep all his skills sharp as possible.

Only then did the thief notice that the regal female figure returned back to the scene of the crime where her coin purse was stolen. For a moment, the thief thought of slipping back into the crowd. Still, a tempting street merchant was near with a pouch that looked like it had enough farthings to last a month’s worth of food and a small chest simply sitting off to the side from a nearby vendor who was currently busy dealing with all of the influx of customers.

With relatively little to lose, the amber-eyed rogue decided to go for the small chest; Using his slight frame, the thief started to weave through the crowd, bee-lining it towards the chest in a roundabout way; Attempting to stay quiet and inconspicuous.

“Shit, I should have changed the colour of my clothing, but it's too late to adjust it now. However, if I need to, I can do so on the run….”

The thief mutters as he approaches the chest from an odd angle, leaving a slight window where the female figure can see him. The lockbox was tempting, and fighting the urge to avoid it was impossible at this point; Need to think fast and get out of his situation. So instead, Jared decided to use one of his Draedan abilities: Bypass to crack through the lock with relatively no effort.

A brief glimmer of a nightshade purple would ooze out of his fingers as he touches the chest, quickly seeping into the cracks of the wood and metal frame of the box. As it snakes its way towards the lock, Jared’s divinity works its magic as it begins to pick at the lock's internal mechanisms with a blinding speed.

Before long, the safety was open, and the contents of the chest were his for the taking, Seeing that there were multiple pouches of unidentifiable weights and goods. The amber-eyed thief took the gambit of snagging one of the pouches before closing the chest quietly. When the lid was placed down gently, the internal mechanisms began to work again, locking themselves as if the chest was never opened before Jared’s involvement.

Not wanting to stick around any longer, the thief decides to make his way towards one of the many alleyways that litter the streets of Levarin, seeking a quiet place to start counting up his rewards for a blitz of thievery he just committed.

[Sola]

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Just when Luna thought all hope had evaporated, she decided to climb atop a sturdy crate to gain a more advantageous perspective. It was from this elevated position that she finally spotted Jared, who was at a considerable distance from her. Under ordinary circumstances, she might have deemed it too laborious to approach him. However, his peculiar behavior piqued her interest. Rather than simply walking away, Jared altered his course and appeared to immerse himself in some activity. This subtle shift in his demeanor signaled to Luna that something intriguing was afoot. Although uncertain about the nature of the unfolding events, she was determined to unravel the mystery. Her gaze sharpened, and she was almost certain that she witnessed the man opening and closing a chest.

Driven more by her inquisitive nature than by any desire to reclaim her lost funds, Luna decided to follow Jared, just barely catching sight of him as he slipped into a narrow, shadowy alleyway. Contrary to Jared, who was well-versed in the art of stealth, Luna was rather conspicuous in her pursuit. She strode with determination, her resolute footsteps echoing through the alley, announcing her presence as she rounded the corner.

"Hey!" she called out, her voice ringing with confidence. "I had a question for you. Do you have a moment? I think you might be able to help me."

Luna maintained a cautious distance, keenly aware of her own limitations. Though she possessed a natural aptitude for persuasion and influence, she was still a novice in the realm of combat. She sensed that there was something off about the mysterious man, and should he brandish a knife, she knew she would be at a significant disadvantage. Her only weapon—a slender stiletto blade—was cleverly concealed beneath her flowing dress, but it would take precious time to retrieve it, time she feared she might not have in a confrontation.

Created by Moop!

[Gloomcrest]

86th of Glade, 4623

As the Alistian street rat started to scurry through the winding alleyways and narrow streets of Levarin, thinking that he had managed to lose some track of any potential pursuers, it was evident that his elusive tactics were proving to be foiled by a pesky figure in the form of the elegant lady who he had stolen her funds.

Thought the amount of farthings in Luna’s purse was quite a lot compared to the average commoner of Daravin, which raised a bit of an eyebrow from the thief. There wasn’t time to think thoroughly about how he had just stolen; the thief wanted to remain anonymous as best as possible.

Only then when Luna called out to Jared, his muscles started to tense up like a cat hunching its back in an attempt to appear larger than seem. It was very much evident that the thief wasn’t so keen on a lengthy conversation but decided to play along with Luna’s request about asking a question.

“What do you want from me? What can this lone stranger help you in?”

The amber-eyed thief couldn’t help but raise his brow further as if this lady was attempting something akin to a negotiation of sorts. Jared’s tone was rather monotone and straight to the point, while it was mostly a facade that the thief had created for himself while working as a professional petty thief. In reality, it was only the mask he wore to protect himself from any potential repercussions his line of work would eventually throw at his face.

“You sound like you need something; speak quickly before I lose interest.”

The Draedan’s keen sense of investigating places of interest and objects does help a little bit in attempting to understand Luna’s current stance. Despite being well-dressed, something was off about her that made the situation feel rather dangerous; if the thief is resorted to fighting. It would most likely be using some sort of disorientating tactic since spilling blood was more of an assassin’s mindset rather than a thief.

For a second, the thief contemplated using one of his other abilities that resonated through his divine spark to disorient and possibly knock the person out if he could maintain his connection. Wildering was currently one of the few abilities that were unique to the Draedan of Saren, which was focused on using his divinity to invade into a person’s nerves; causing them to become overstimulated and create an extremely nauseating effect which grows with intensity the longer the Draedan could channel the effects.

[Sola]

▬ι═ﺤ

Luna’s confidence wavered when she saw how defensive Jared got. She supposed it was only natural if one was being called out to in an alley. She was not entirely comfortable with being there either. Still, something about this whole situation was too fishy to ignore. The way he stood seemed a tad too defensive as if he expected to be accused of something. Had he been a little more laid back, Luna would have lost some of her suspicions.

“I know you did something,” she said finally, “I’m not sure what I saw you doing to that chest, but I hazard a guess that it was magic. And I have a suspicion that you might have taken my money.” She paused and looked around to make sure Jared didn’t have a friend sneaking up on her.

“That being said,” she continued, “perhaps we can come to an agreement. I won’t tell the guards, and you teach me how to do what you do. Consider my purse a deposit on some lessons, if you will.” Her voice was sincere yet a tad shaky. She was still very aware that he might just choose to attack her for her threat. And she knew very well based on her recent magic practice that hitting something with accuracy was not in her wheelhouse, when it came to telekinesis. Several combat situations played out in her head, each one ending with a hypothetical knife being shoved into her at close range.

Luna waited earnestly for the man’s reply. She was very much interested in learning how to do sneaky things. While she wasn’t the type to go cutting purses, she could see the value in being able to bypass locks and get into places one shouldn’t be. Then there was the purple stuff that she thought must have been magic. There was nobody else in her life with magic that was of any interest to her. Pyromancy, baptism, none of that was her. As a mentalism mage she was definitely more on the subtle side.

Created by Moop!

[Gloomcrest]

86th of Glade, 4623

It was hard to get a read on this mysterious lady in question; whether she was acting well or her threats holding enough weight to make the thief question whether it was best to silence her now was up for debate, but one of the many visions that the Draedan would experience would inflict a pounding headache which causes the thief to stumble for a moment as the world around him begins to turn into a bloody shade of red; as reality started to play out in front of him where Jared would lunge forward with his blade and crave out a sizable chunk out of the fancy woman.

Briefly shaking his head for a moment, the blurred reality was still present, and the drive to enact this vision was strong enough that the thief took a couple of steps forward for a moment. His amber-eyed gaze would have a glimmer of nightshade purple but be quickly subdued as the thief attempted to control himself from enacting Lucence’s visions.

“Sure, I did something…. Walking through this alleyway, as for the chest, sure it wasn’t a figment of your imagination? Based on what you are saying, there mages out there who can create figments, and what makes you think I stole your money? I don’t have your purse after all….”

Seeing that Luna was looking around as if she was discerning if he was alone, the thief thought it was worth channelling his divinity to escape the situation. There were a couple of doors to get in an attempt to lose sight, another opinion was to change his clothing and appearance, and the other statement quickly was to indulge Luna’s request.

“How can you convince guards to divert their resources on finding a petty thief like myself? Besides, it would be a waste of the guards' time n a sea of hundreds of thousands of faces. There are far more filthy scoundrels than little old me. So instead, what do you have to offer other than coin? I can fill my pockets quickly if I so choose to; Rather an exchange of skills and teachings, since I can tell that you are well-versed in socials and more from the looks of it….

Even so…. Why learn these dirty skills? You look capable enough of getting someone else to do for you and have them take the fall? Other than that, I am sorry to say, that there are some things that I can’t teach, I am sure you are aware that magic has a mind of its own and changes in accordance of one’s will…. Mine under that category….”

While Jared couldn’t tell what sort of social skills Luna might have, his trained perception of assessing people hasn’t been wrong so far, and after his divine spark was awoken, nature's perception only grew wider.

Taking a moment to lean his back against a nearby wall, the thief was still very much in a defensive position despite appearing so casually to Luna. Instead, despite being so exposed, there were tricks that the thief could use to defend himself in the open alleyway that could exude an air of confidence, however false it may be.

[Sola]

▬ι═ﺤ

Luna's eyes went wide, and her hand instinctively slipped inside her dress as Jared took a few steps towards her. She tensed, ready to react, but then he stopped, seemingly changing his mind about attacking her, at least for the moment. He continued to speak, explaining his position and defending himself. Luna listened carefully, waiting for the right moment to interject.

"I'll admit, that was a bluff," Luna confessed when the opportunity arose. "I wouldn't bother a guard unless someone tried to hurt me, even if I did suspect they stole a significant amount of money." It was true; if Luna ever felt wronged, she was more inclined to seek revenge through other means. As she considered Jared's words, she felt they only confirmed her suspicions. Even so, she decided not to call him a thief any longer, lest he approach her threateningly again.

"If you're looking for something other than coin, I'm sure we can come to some kind of arrangement. I've got a talent for necromancy and... other skills that men often find useful," Luna hinted. "And why do I have such interest? Because I myself possess magic that requires subtlety. So, if you do have such a magic that creates figments, that would be invaluable to me. If you achieved what you did without magic, all the more reason for me to learn from you."

Luna studied Jared carefully as he leaned against the wall, unsure whether he was inviting her to come closer or not. She decided to stay where she was for the time being. While Luna indeed had a plethora of skills built around persuading people to do her bidding, this was not the kind of situation she was accustomed to. She was most effective at close range, where she could attach her invisible tethers and work her seductive charm. However, she was cautious not to overstep her boundaries with Jared and to maintain a safe distance until she could better gauge his intentions.

Created by Moop!